XENITH 75

BACKPACKING | MOUNTAINEERING

BACKPACKING | MOUNTAINEERING

Designed to handle large loads on extended trips, the Osprey Xenith 75 comfortably handles enough gear for a week-long backcountry ramble in Utah's Canyonlands. The Xenith 75 is loaded with technical features that backpackers will appreciate. LightWire™ suspension and dual side compression straps keep the load stable even when moving through rugged terrain.

Dual Zippered Front Pockets

Zippered Hipbelt Pockets

Dual Compartment Top Pocket

The removable, dual compartment top lid converts to a quality lumbar pack for side trips. The built-in belt stores behind the padded, ventilated lumbar pad when not in use.

Description

Designed to handle large loads on extended trips, the Osprey Xenith 75 comfortably handles enough gear for a week-long backcountry ramble in Utah’s Canyonlands. The Xenith 75 is loaded with technical features that backpackers will appreciate. LightWire™ suspension and dual side compression straps keep the load stable even when moving through rugged terrain.

The heat-molded BioForm™ harness and hipbelt provides a precise customized fit to ensure all day comfort and a mesh backpanel keeps you cool if the temps heat up as you climb out of the deep arroyo. The top of the pack is a dual compartment that can also be removed to save weight or converted into a lumbar pack for summit dashes. Two zippered hipbelt pockets keep your phone, snacks and other essential items organized and close at hand. External stretch mesh pockets—two side and one rear—allow more grab and go storage options. The external hydration sleeve allows easy access to make liquid refills a snap. There are dual ice axe loops from alpine adventures and the Stow-on-the-Go™ trekking pole storage system lets you stash your sticks without breaking stride.

Key Attributes

Load Capacity

With exceptional load capacity, this pack is built for lengthy excursions when you’re carrying food, water and gear for multiple days or weeks on the trail.

Custom Molding

The moldable hipbelt and harness offer outstanding comfort for carrying heavy loads over long distances. Both components are interchangeable and provide a truly customized fit.

Access and Organization

Large loads are easier to manage when access and organization are prioritized. Side pockets, multiple access points, and a removable dual compartment lid that converts to a lumbar pack provide convenience and versatility.

My Xenith 75 replaced an old Marmot Glacier pack (the year after Marmot bought Dana Designs) of similar capacity which had served me well for 15(?) years. I'm 6'6", 230-260# depending on how much Ben & Jerry's I've consumed of late, so fitting me is a challenge. This Xenith does so, with fantastic adjustability in the torso and belt. Some competitors advertise ranges in torso which aren't accurate -- the Xenith's is, at least on the high end. It is very comfortable. My old Marmot advertised something like 60+# capacity, but that was stretching it. I'm not happy carrying a load over 40#, but this pack can do it comfortably, while breathing well. The lid explodes easily and is readily adjustable.

The cons: (1) Durability -- the side pockets are a stretch material that showed signs of fraying after my first trip. Holes are present after only a few. One of the compression straps is fraying. The straps are narrower and thinner throughout, and the buckles are not bulletproof. I would be concerned taking it mountaineering. The pack material is not built to last. The cynic would call that planned obsolescence.

(2) Too busy -- Osprey could shave substantial weight that could be invested back into durability (while saving manufacturing costs). For example, the bottom access zipper, seen on most packs these days just adds weight and expense with very little payoff -- 99% of the time, one takes out one's bag at the end of the day anyway and the access area is difficulty to stuff a larger bag into anyway. Similarly, there are two outside zip pockets that, if you've filled the pack, you can't really use for much anyway. Ditch those and save some weight. I'm not a big fan of the little pockets on the belt (I know many folks are), which are not very durable -- ditch those and save a couple more ounces.

I would love to see Osprey simplify this pack and invest the savings back into toughness.